Giblet pumping apparatus



Jan. 7, 1969 E. E. LEWIS GIBLET PUMPING APPARATUS Filed June 23, 1967 United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Giblet pumping method and apparatus comprising a diaphragm pump including inlet and outlet ball check valves wheren the ball of each valve is retractable from the line of flow of the pumped substance. Water is added to a mass of giblets to form a slurry, and as the slurry is pumped it is free to flow past the inlet valve without restriction or obstruction, into the pumping chamber of the diaphragm pump, and on the pumping stroke, the substance being pumped is urged past the outlet check valve, without encountering any restriction or obstruction. The balls of the check valves are retractable completely beyond the flow path of the slurry, into a pocket above the flow path of the slurry, whereby the slurry flows through a low resistance flow channel toward and away from the pump, without damaging the giblets.

Background of the invention In transporting a slurry containing delicate particles, such as chicken giblets, it is usually desirable to transport the slurry in a gentle manner so that the delicate particles in the slurry are not damaged. When transporting chicken giblets, the various edible portions of the chicken are of significant size, and varying in size. The giblets must be handled carefully in order to avoid damage to the giblets, yet positive control must be maintained in transporting the giblets in order that the movement of the giblets through the processing plant is timed with the various other operations of the plant. The giblets are delivered to a point in the assembly line of the plant where they are wrapped and packaged with the dressed chicken, and the giblets and chicken are packaged for shipment.

Summary of the invention This invention comprises a giblet pumping method and apparatus wherein the giblets removed from chickens in the processing plant are placed in a receptacle, water is added to the receptacle to form a slurry, and the slurry, including the giblets, is pumped to a position in the processing plant where the water is drained from the slurry and the giblets are packaged. The pump utilized in the process is a diaphragm pump, and the diaphragm is constructed so that when it is moved to its top dead center position, or to the end of its pumping stroke, a space is maintained between the diaphragm and the wall of the pumping chamber which is large enough to accommodate the largest of the giblets processed by the pump so that none of the giblets will be squeezed or crushed between the diaphragm and the wall of the pumping chamber. The diaphragm is proportioned so that the inlet and outlet openings of the pumping chamber are never blocked by the diaphragm, and a space is maintained in the pumping chamber about the inlet and outlet openings to avoid squeezing or crushing the giblets. The check valves utilized with the pump are ball check valves, and the flow of slurry through the check valves is a straight line flow. The balls of the ball check valves are constructed so that they are completely withdrawn from the flow of the slurry as it passes through the check valves, toward and away from the pump.

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Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for pumping a slurry containing delicate particles without damaging the particles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method and apparatus for pumping chicken giblets without damaging the giblets.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve system for a diaphragm pump wherein the closing elements of the valves are withdrawn from the fluid stream during the pumping strokes of the pump.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for pumping chicken giblets in slurry form wherein the giblets are urged through an unencumbered path.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for transporting chicken giblets through a processing plant Without damaging the giblets, the apparatus being economical to manufacture and expedient and economical in use.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the diaphragm pump, its inlet and outlet valves, the driving mechanism, and the support.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, taken in cross section, of the diaphragm pump and its valves.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the pump cover, showing the inside upper surface of the pumping chamber.

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the pump in combination with the receiving bin.

Description of an embodiment Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in. which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 4 shows pumping apparatus 10 which includes a receiving bin 11, diaphragm pump 12, inlet check valve 14, outlet check valve 15, inlet conduit 16, outlet conduit 17, and driving mechanism 19. Inlet conduit 16 is connected between the lower portion of receiving bin 11 and inlet check valve 14. Inlet check valve 14 and outlet check valve 15 are located outside the housing of pump 12 and form portions of inlet conduit 16 and outlet conduit 17. As is shown in FIG. 1, pump 12 may be supported in any conventional manner, as from platform 20 supported by legs 21. Driving motor 22 is supported by legs 21 and positioned below pump 12. A flywheel 24 is connected to the drive shaft of motor 22, and connecting rod 25 is connected at one of its ends to eccentric 26 of flywheel 24, and at the other of its ends to the diaphragm structure 28 of pump 12.

Pump 12 includes a lower support housing 29 and upper pumping housing 30. Lower support housing 29 and platform 20 define central openings (not shown), and connecting rod 25 extends through the openings. Upper pumping housing 30 and lower support housing 29 are connected to each other by bolts 31 extending through flanges 32 and 33 of the lower and upper housings, respectively. Diaphragm 35 of diaphragm structure 28 is clamped about its periphery between flanges 32 and 33. Diaphragm 35 is flexible, being fabricated of rubber or similar flexible material, and defines a central aperture 36. Upper disc 38 is positioned over the center portion of the upper surface of diaphragm 35, while lower disc 39 is positioned on the opposite side of diaphragm 35, and upper and lower discs 38 and 39 are connected together by connecting member 40. Upper and lower discs 38 and 39 close aperture 36 to the center of diaphragm 35 and crank shaft 25 is connected at its upper end to downwardly extending connecting member 40. The arrangement of the interior surface of diaphragm structure 28 is such as to provide a generally smooth surface, and the concave inner surface of upper housing 30 is also smooth. Thus, diaphragm structure 28 and upper housing 30 form a smooth fluid-tight pumping chamber 41. p a

Upper housing 30 defines inlet and outlet openings 42 and 43 on opposite sides thereof which are connected to inlet and outlet valves 14 and 15, respectively. While inlet openings 42 and 43 are generally circular in a vertical plane, FIG. 3 shows that the slope of the interior surface of upper pumping housing 30 effectively shapes inlet and outlet openings 42 and 43 as ellipses, thereby increasing the cross sectional area of the openings.

Upper pumping housing 30 includes conduits 44 and 45 which extend outwardly of openings 42 and 43, respectively, and terminate in annular flanges 46 and 47, respectively. Inlet and outlet valves 14 and are identical in construction, and each includes a through conduit 49 and ball chamber 50. Annular flanges 51 and 52 are disposed about each end of through conduit 49. Through conduit 49 and its flanges 51 and 52 are of substantially identical size and shape as conduits 44 and 45 of upper pumping housing and their flanges 46 and 47, respectively. Thus, the through conduit 49 of inlet and outlet valves 14 and 15 can be aligned with inlet and outlet conduits 44 and of upper pumping housing 30, and clamps 54 positioned about the mated flanges to securely connect the valves to the pumping housing.

Ball chamber is generally cylindrical in cross section and extends at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with respect to through conduit 49 of valves 14 and 15. Ball chamber 50 is of slightly larger internal diameter than through conduit 49, and a ball 55 of larger external diameter than the internal diameter of through conduit 49 is received in ball chamber 50. Through conduit 49 and ball chamber 50 are openly adjoined to each other, and because of the smaller diameter of through conduit 49, a ball traveling surface 56 is positioned at the junction of ball chamber 50 and through conduit 49. Thus, the movement of ball 55 in its valve is limited by ball traveling surfaces 56 to ball chamber 50, to a path extending generally 30 degrees with respect to the axis of through conduit 49, as indicated by arrow 57.

At the lower junction of ball chamber 50 with through conduit 49, a rim 58 is created which functions as a valve seat for ball 55. Rim 58 is of a diameter substantially identical to the internal diameter of through conduit 49, and its central axis is disposed at an angle of approximately15 degrees with respect to the axis of through conduit 49; in other words, the central axis of rim 58 generally bisects the angle between the central axes of through conduit 49 and ball chamber 50.

Ball chamber 50 is closed at its upper end by closure 60. Thus, the movement of ball 55 in ball chamber 50 is limited by closure 60 and rim 58.

Operation When conveying chicken giblets in the processing plant, the giblets are removed from the chicken and placed in receiving bin 11. Water is added to receiving bin 11 through conduit 61 so that a slurry is formed in the bin. Motor 22 is energized to turn flywheel 24 and to operate pump 12. Connecting rod 25 is connected between the eccentric 26 of flywheel 24 and connecting member 40 of diaphragm structure 28. Rotation of flywheel 24 results in the reciprocation of diaphragm structure 28 of pump 12.

As diaphragm structure 28 is reciprocated, its discs 38 and 39 are reciprocated between the solid line and broken line positions of FIG. 2. The reciprocation of discs 38 and 39 results in diaphragm 35 flexing between its center portion and periphery so that pumping chamber 41 is alternately expanded and contracted in volume.

Upon downward movement of diaphragm structure 28, a suction is created in pumping chamber 41 which urges balls 55 toward pumping chamber 41. Because of the angle at which ball chambers SOare disposed, ball 55 of outlet valve 15 will move from its full line position to its broken line position against rim 58, to block fluid flow through valve 15. Ball 55 of inlet valve 14- -will move from its solid line position up its inclined ball traveling surfaces 56 to its broken line position to permit fluid flow through valve 14. Thus, pump 12 is effective to draw the slurry into its pumping chamber 41.

When diaphragm structure 28 is moved in an upward direction, balls 55 of valves 14 and 15 move from their broken line position to their solid line position, thus closing inlet valve 14 and opening outlet valve 15. This renders pump 12 effective to expel a portion of its slurry through outlet valve 15, thus carrying out the pumping function.

Because of the manner in which balls 55 travel in their respective valves, it can be seen that balls 55 are removed from the flow path of the slurry pumped by pump 12, and the slurry encounters no restrictions or encumbrances in its travel toward or away from pump 12. The smooth configuration of valves 14 and 15 is such that no portions of the slurry will cling to the internal surfaces of the valves and the rotating movement of the balls as they travel in ball chambers 50 is Such that the balls tend to wipe themselves clean during the pumping function. The open communication between ball chambers 50 and through conduits 49 is such that if any solid particles of the slurry travel into the ball chamber 50 above ball 55, the solid particles will be free to fall into through conduit 49, and will not tend to be trapped by ball 55. Furthermore, the direction of rotation of ball 55 as it moves into the upper portion of ball chamber 50 is such as to urge any solid particles present in ball chamber 50 in a downward direction toward through conduit 49.

When diaphragm 35 is flexed to its upper position in pumping chamber 41, it bends so that it is generally complementary with the interior surface of upper pumping housing 30 at the point adjacent inlet and outlet openings 42 annd 43. The proportions of discs 38 and 39, diaphragm 35, and upper pumping housing 30 are such that a space is always maintained between upper disc 38 and upper pumping housing 30, and between diaphragm 35 and inlet and outlet openings 42 and 43. The spaces thus maintained in pumping chamber 41 insure that the giblets will not be squeezed or crushed during the pumping function. The smooth interior surfaces of pumping chamber 41 insures that the flow of the pumped slurry will not be hindered at any point of its travel through the pump and the elliptical configuration of openings 42 and 43 (FIG. 3) provides a relatively large'cross sectional area through which the particles of the slurry are urged by diaphragm 35.

Flywheel 24 is of suflicient weight so that the pumping stroke generally follows a sine wave motion in spite of the heavy load of the slurry. Thus, the movement of balls 55 in their respective valves takes place during the slowest portion of the movement of the diaphragm structure 28, thus avoiding excessive and abrupt pressure changes in the system.

While the invention has been disclosed as being utilized with a slurry containing chicken giblets, it should be understood that various other fluids can be pumped. Also, while the invention has been described as pumping delicate substances, it should be obvious that the system can be utilized for pumping slurries containing large particles, where the particles are delicate or indelicate.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiment chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. In apparatus for conveying delicate particulate substances in slurry form:

a diaphragm pump having a body provided with an outlet and an inlet,

a first conduit communicating with the inlet of the a second conduit communicating with the outlet of the pump,

a check valve including a ball movable in a path extending from the interior of the first conduit and in clined upwardly from the first conduit toward the pump, and

a check valve including a ball movable in a path extending from the interior of the second conduit and inclined upwardly from the second conduit away from the pump.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said body defines elliptical inlet and outlet openings.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said pump body defines a smooth concave interior surface.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the path of the ball of the first conduit extends upwardly at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the first conduit, and the path of the ball of the second conduit extends upwardly at an angle of approximately 30 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis of the second conduit.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the first conduit defines an annular valve seat with its central axis generally 'bisect-ing the central axis of the first conduit and the path of its ball, and the second conduit defines an annular valve seat with its central axis generally bisecting the central axis of the second conduit and the path of its ball.

6. Apparatus for conveying giblets in a poultry processing plant comprising:

a giblet receiving bin defining a bottom opening,

a source of water communicating with said bin,

a diaphragm pump,

a first conduit connected at one of its ends to the bot tom opening and at the other of its ends to the diaphragm pump,

a second conduit connected at one of its ends to the diaphragm pump,

a first cylindrical chamber in open communication with the first conduit and extending upwardly at an acute angle with respect to the first conduit, generally inclined toward the diaphragm pump,

a ball movable in the first cylindrical chamber to alternately block and open the first conduit,

a second cylindrical chamber in open communication with the second conduit and extending upwardly at an acute angle with respect to the second conduit, generally inclined away from the diaphragm pump, and

a ball movable in the second cylindrical chamber to alternately block and open the second conduit.

7. Apparatus for conveying chicken giblets through a chicken processing plant comprising:

a diaphragm pump including a pump housing and a diaphragm movable toward and away from said pump housing, inlet and outlet openings defined in said pump housing, said diaphragm 'being constructed and dimensioned to define at least a minimum clearance with said pump housing and said inlet and outlet openings to accommodate the larger of the giblets,

inlet and outlet valves connected to said inlet and outlet openings, each defining an unencumbered open cylindrical conduit, a cylindrical chamber extending at an upward acute angle from said conduit generally toward the direction of flow through the pump, said chamber being of larger internal diameter than said conduit, a sphere of outside diameter greater than the internal diameter of said conduit positioned in said chamber, and an annular valve seat for said sphere positioned at the junction of said chamber and said conduit, the central axis of said valve seat bisecting the central axes of said conduit and said chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,751,850 6/1956 Hoover 103-150 3,043,227 7/1962 Everett 103-150 ANDRES H. NIELSEN, Primary Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 103-150 

